Naroden and other guests check out products at the exhibition booths.
JOHOR BAHRU: The Sarawak Bumiputera Entrepreneurs Showcase 2015 held in Angsana Johor Baru Mall from March 26 until 29 was a success with 50 booths being set up.
The participating booths –42 from Sarawak, Johor (5), Terengganu (1) and Persatuan Borneo Johor (2), showcased various products, including the famous Sarawak layered cake (Kek Lapis Sarawak), herbs and services.
Traditional dances like Ngajat and stage performance by Iban artistes like Shima were also held to entertain the crowd.
It was the fourth consecutive year that such event was held at the same venue and was opened by Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Bumiputera Entrepreneur Development) Datuk Mohd Naroden Majais.
“We see the event (Sarawak Bumiputera Entrepreneurs Showcase) as a very important platform to promote the products and services offered by SMEs in Sarawak, and therefore such event will continue in the future,” he said.
Balingian assemblyman Yussibnosh Balo, Kedup assemblyman Martin Ben, Telang Usan assemblyman Dennis Ngau, director of Bumiputera Entrepreneurs Development Unit (UPUB) and Halal Hub in the Chief Minister’s Department Samat Junai and representative from Johor Economic Planning Unit Gadafie Abd Aziz were also present at the function.
Naroden said Johor was chosen due to its strategic location and close proximity to Singapore, adding that such event would continue in the coming years to promote small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) and create networking.
According to him, the number of SMEs in the country was still small, compared to Japan, Taiwan and South Korea, adding that the government was taking various initiatives and programmes to increase their numbers.
Based on data from SME Corporation, there were 650,000 SMEs in the country that contributed 34 per cent to the Gross Domestic Products (GDP) and provided 58 per cent employment.
Naroden, who is also Assistant Minister of Resource Planning, also encouraged investors from other states to invest in the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) which had so far attracted 19 projects worth about RM30.4 billion.
He also mentioned the 77,000ha halal hub at Tanjung Manis that investors should go far, adding that the global market for halal products was estimated at RM1.6billion.
He thanked the Johor government and other agencies for their strong support towards the (Sarawak) state government in promoting SMEs in the state (Johor).